Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 8

गङ्गावतरण-प्रार्थना

Bhagīratha’s Petition for the Descent of Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

दिलीपस्तु महातेजा यज्ञैर्बहुभिरिष्टवान्।त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि राजा राज्यमकारयत्।।1.42.8।।

Transliteration

dilīpas tu mahātejā yajñair bahubhir iṣṭavān |

triṃśadvarṣasahasrāṇi rājā rājyam akārayat || 1.42.8 ||

Translation

威光赫奕的帝王迪利帕举行了众多祭祀（yajña），并统治其国三万年。

Word by Word

• दिलीपः: Dilīpa
• दिलीपः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dilīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• तु: however/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः; discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/पक्षान्तरे-अव्यय (particle: 'but/indeed')

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of दिलीपः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (mahā tejaḥ yasya)

• यज्ञैः: with sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: Karaṇa (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• बहुभिः: many
• बहुभिः: Karaṇa (करण; agrees with यज्ञैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of यज्ञैः)

• इष्टवान्: performed (sacrifices)
• इष्टवान्: Karta (कर्ता; predicate of दिलीपः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (यज्) धातु
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'having sacrificed/performed'

• त्रिंशत्-वर्ष-सहस्राणि: for thirty thousand years
• त्रिंशत्-वर्ष-सहस्राणि: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triṃśat + varṣa + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषणपूर्वक तत्पुरुष-समास (triṃśad-varṣa-sahasrāṇi = 'thirty-year-thousands' i.e., 30,000 years)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद/पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः (apposition to दिलीपः)

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अकारयत्: ruled/administered
• अकारयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ) धातु (णिच् causative)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: 'caused to be done' = 'administered/ruled')

Context

Most brilliant king Dilipa ruled the kingdom for thirty thousand years performing many sacrifices.

Characters & Entities

• Dilīpa
• Yajña

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Rāja-dharma: the king sustains order through governance and yajña (public religious duty), linking personal piety with social welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra summarizes Dilīpa’s long reign and sacrificial life before his death, setting up Bhagīratha’s later role.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Public-spirited righteousness—rule supported by ritual responsibility and sustained leadership.